2 Opening Address. 



cessive years, there was no alternative for rue but to accede to 

 the request of the council and use my best endeavours, though I 

 fear very inadequately, to acknowledge the honour conferred 

 upon me. 



Let me then crave your patience whilst I offer, in the first 

 place, some remarks upon the utility of this society ; and it may 

 not be irrelevant if I briefly refer to the advantages which may 

 be derived from societies in general. 



Erom very early ages we find that societies were formed for 

 the advancement of religion, science, art, and literature. From 

 Chinese records ifc appears that about GOOyears before the Christian 

 Era a Mathematical Board was established especially for the im- 

 provement of astronomical science. 



In modern times, hardly a year has passed by without the 

 establishment of some new society for the promotion of missionary 

 enterprise, the advancement of useful arts and science, or the re- 

 form of abuses. And why is this combined action so essential 

 and powerful ? It is because " union is strength." As in a 

 bundle of faggots one may be insufficient for any important work, 

 yet when all are firmly united together, the bundle may help to 

 support a line of rails over which rolls the heavy locomotive. 

 Some of the objects and advantages of learned societies is to en- 

 courage and bring forward those who have conceived some new 

 theory, or made some new discovery, to afford opportunities to 

 the author for having the truth and utility of the same discussed 

 and examined, and in many cases to reward him with some especial 

 mark of distinction. 



The advantages are obvious. It not only contributes to the 

 advancement of knowledge generally, but the opportunity for 

 discussion increases the confidence of an author in the truth and 

 value of those researches to which he has devoted so much time 

 and labour. The amount of real practical good that has been 

 effected by the Society of Arts ; the British Association ; the 

 Microscopical Society ; the Geographical Society ; the Zoological 

 Society, and many others, is too well known to need much com- 

 ment. "Where but for them would be the improvements in the 

 steam engine ; the progress of Meteorology ; the discoveries in 

 Africa ; and our extensive knowledge of the mineral and vegetable 

 kingdoms ? "Where but through their united influence would 



